Nurses and midwives in the UK are leaving the profession at a faster rate than new ones are joining it, figures have revealed.

The number of nurses and midwives leaving the profession has risen 51 per cent in just four years, with those under the age of retirement citing low pay and poor working conditions.

New figures from the Nursing and Midwifery Council show that for the first time in recent history more midwives and nurses are leaving the register than are joining, with homegrown UK nurses leaving in the largest numbers.

Between 2016 and 2017, 20 per cent more people left the register than joined it, and among those first registered in the UK, the figure was 45 per cent.

From April to May this year, there has been a dramatic fall in numbers, with a further 3,264 workers leaving the profession.

The Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives called on the Government to scrap the one per cent pay cap as a matter of urgency to stem the exodus.

Saffron Cordery, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, said: "These figures provide further evidence of the severe workforce problems NHS trusts face.

"This goes beyond the concerns over Brexit - worrying though they are.

"The reduction in numbers is most pronounced among UK registrants. And it is particularly disappointing to see so many of our younger nurses and midwives choosing to leave.”

The overall number of leavers - which includes UK, overseas and EU registrants - has increased from 23,087 in 2012/13 to 34,941 in 2016/17.

Leavers among those first registered in the UK - who make up 85 per cent of the entire register - jumped from 19,819 in 2012/2013 to 29,434 in 2016/2017.

The data also shows that the number of EU workers - who make up five per cent of the register - leaving has increased from 1,173 in 2012/2013 to 3,081 in 2016/2017.

The top reasons for leaving were given as poor working conditions, changes in personal circumstances, and disillusionment with the quality of care provided to patients.